Daniel 7:9-10

7:9 “While I was watching,

thrones were set up,

and the Ancient of Days ¹  took his seat.

His attire was white like snow;

the hair of his head was like lamb’s ²  wool.

His throne was ablaze with fire

and its wheels were all aflame. ³ 

7:10 A river of fire was streaming forth

and proceeding from his presence.

Many thousands were ministering to him;

Many tens of thousands stood ready to serve him. ⁴ 

The court convened ⁵ 

and the books were opened.

Daniel 7:18

7:18 The holy ones ⁶  of the Most High will receive the kingdom and will take possession of the kingdom forever and ever.’

Daniel 7:27

7:27 Then the kingdom, authority,

and greatness of the kingdoms under all of heaven

will be delivered to the people of the holy ones ⁷  of the Most High.

His kingdom is an eternal kingdom;

all authorities will serve him and obey him.’

[7:9]  ¹ tn Or “the Ancient One” (NAB, NRSV, NLT), although the traditional expression has been retained in the present translation because it is familiar to many readers. Cf. TEV “One who had been living for ever”; CEV “the Eternal God.”

[7:9]  ² tn Traditionally the Aramaic word נְקֵא (nÿqe’) has been rendered “pure,” but here it more likely means “of a lamb.” Cf. the Syriac neqya’ (“a sheep, ewe”). On this word see further, M. Sokoloff, “’amar neqe’, ‘Lamb’s Wool’ (Dan 7:9),” JBL 95 (1976): 277-79.

[7:9]  ³ tn Aram “a flaming fire.”

[7:10]  ⁴ tn Aram “were standing before him.”

[7:10]  ⁵ tn Aram “judgment sat.”

[7:18]  ⁶ sn The expression holy ones is either a reference to angels or to human beings devoted to God.

[7:27]  ⁷ tn If the “holy ones” are angels, then this probably refers to the angels as protectors of God’s people. If the “holy ones” are God’s people, then this is an appositional construction, “the people who are the holy ones.” See 8:24 for the corresponding Hebrew phrase and the note there.